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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E850-E851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MICHAEL BEDKE
______
HON. KATHY CASTOR
of florida
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the
selfless pro bono
[[Page E851]]
work of Tampa attorney, Michael Bedke, who will receive the Florida Bar
Foundation's 2019 Medal of Honor Award this week. The Medal of Honor is
the Foundation's highest honor.
Michael Bedke works to ensure the wheels of justice turn for
everyone. He has devoted a large portion of his distinguished legal
career in service to his community and his country. He has provided
extensive pro bono service and advocacy for AIDS patients, domestic
violence survivors and individuals in need. He also has maintained an
unfailing commitment to improve the lives of veterans. He spearheaded
the ``No Place Like Home'' initiative which establishes permanent
supportive housing for neighbors in need of mental health services or
who are at risk of chronic homelessness.
Throughout his life, Mike always has recognized his duty to serve his
neighbors and country in a wide variety of ways. He is constantly
thinking of ways to meet unmet legal needs and has a unique ability to
develop effective plans for meeting those needs.
As a young lawyer, Mike took on pro bono cases to represent persons
with AIDS in the 1980s, a time when the general public was both fearful
and uneducated about the disease. True to his style of leading by
example, by taking on these cases and serving on the board of the Tampa
AIDS Network he encouraged colleagues to take similar action.
After Category 5 Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992, Mike worked
to pass Good Samaritan legislation that removed an impediment to
lawyers providing pro bono help to disaster survivors. He also led
legal relief efforts in response to Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii, the
bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, and
September 11. He founded the Greater Access and Assistance Project
while chair of the American Bar Association's Young Lawyer's Division,
modeling it after the Courthouse Assistance Project he created at home
as a member of Bay Area Legal Services' board of directors.
Mike has worked to empower domestic violence survivors for more than
25 years. He was appointed to the National Advisory Committee on
Violence Against Women in 2002 and has served on numerous boards
working to improve access and support for survivors. He worked with the
Women's Caucus of the Peruvian Parliament to draft model domestic
violence legislation.
Mike received his bachelor's degree with high honors from the
University of Florida in Gainesville and served as student body
president. He then completed his juris doctorate with honors from the
University of Florida. He developed a program at his alma mater to
recruit and retain minority law students. He has also served as an
adjunct professor at Stetson College of Law.
Close to my heart and so many in the Tampa Bay area is Bay Area Legal
Services that provides legal aid to people who need it. As president of
the Board of Directors for Bay Area Legal Services, in 2015, Mike
spearheaded a fundraising effort that created a $400,000 endowment for
a veterans program. He also led the development and implementation of
Bay Area's ``No Place Like Home Project'' to provide pro bono help to
low-income homeowners experiencing title issues.
He is a partner in the Tampa office of the distinguished
international law firm, DLA Piper. While Mike is much sought after in
his specific area of practice, he was called to do more in service to
his community and country--and we are better for it and grateful for
his vision and commitment.
Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of America, the State of
Florida and my neighbors across our hometown, I am proud to mark Mike
Bedke's lifetime of leadership.
____________________
